Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Imel.
Hi Abby, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a child, I always had a camera of some sort in my hand. Whether it was a toy camera or a phone I always had enjoyed taking photos of everything.
In 2018 I started using my mom’s camera at cycling races capturing the super fast paced environment. While it was fun in that moment, I knew that cycling photos were not my true passion. It was because of this realization that I asked for a camera of my own for the next 2 years so I could take photos of my friends and other people as well.
In 2020, I started making use of my DSLR that I got for Christmas and I started taking photos of people on a more regular basis. In May that year I had decided to pursue this passion of mine and start a business. Being a 16 year-old, I had no expectations of how it was going to work out it was solely just for the fun of it. Towards the end of summer I had created a website, started an Instagram, and even made little hand outs for people about my services. I think I ended up with a total of 15 sessions that year. This was mind-blowing to me at the time.
Flashforward to now, I have been running my business full-time for four years and have shifted towards primarily being a wedding photographer. I never thought that this passion of mine could turn into something as fulfilling as capturing such unique moments in my clients lives. There is comfort in how much I love what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being in a family of entrepreneurs the initial business components were not difficult to me as they were second nature. Everything I did behind the scenes felt pretty basic in terms of developing brands, and staying on top of social media.
Something that has been challenging is the shift from being primarily a senior photographer to a wedding/couples photographer. Being young in this industry definitely has some pluses but can also be an uphill battle when trying to get into the wedding industry. I’ve learned that couples seem timid towards younger photographers unless they truly see the potential in them. In the past year I have really established my wedding portfolio and the purpose behind my brand to make me and my couples feel confident in what I’m offering and prove that my age does not define the experience I have built over the past several years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a wedding photographer based in Denver, Colorado. I specialize in a very candid and detailed oriented style with the intention of capturing timeless moments for each of my couples. Authenticity is something I strive for as a creative and I believe is what I’m known for. The time I spend with each of my couples on the back-end before their sessions really helps set the tone for their session/wedding.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Obviously trends flow in and out. Right now we are seeing a lot of composition changes like shooting at more dynamic angles and motion blur. I think this will continue for the next couple of years but where I think we will see the biggest changes in this industry will be related to editing styles. Right now I’ve noticed a huge shift towards more “film” like editing. In the next couple of years I believe it will shift back towards more rich golden hours like we saw throughout 2020/2021
Contact Info:
- Website: abbyimelphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyimelphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyimelphotography/
- Other: https://www.rockymountainbride.com/vendors/abby-imel-photography/
